So… how many times do we wish for time to ourselves? “If only I didn’t have to do X and could just do Y”. Well right now it appears I got my wish… only I really wish I hadn’t. Be careful what you wish for (note the liberal use of wish). As a noun, a desire or wish for something to happen or, as a verb, to express a strong desire or hope for something that is not easily attainable. Hmm, not that I wished to hurt myself of course… so let me explain.

Netball, yes netball, since described to me as “the devils sport!” and responsible for the increased attendance of grown women at their local A&E. This is the reason for my absence. Now many of you will know I’ve been loving revisiting my youth with Back to Netball and my ballet and tap classes. Tricky, as previously discussed on my blog… when dance was your career it is with trepidation that you head back to the barre as not one part of your body can ‘do it’ like it ‘did it’ back in the day. However, I set the fears aside and did it anyway!

With Netball it was different as I really think it was about 37 years ago that I played. So yes, I was GA in Bamford Primary School’s netball team as you can see from the picture above (WHAT WAS WITH THE KIT ?????!!) (and how I was GA I do not know as I can’t shoot to save my life these days) but now I was picking up the WA bib happily (or any other bib that hadn’t been taken by one of the better players, I know my place!) Do you know I loved it and was getting better and fitter… and now THIS. An enforced leave of absence from… well EVERYTHING!

I have to shout from the rooftops how I respect my lovely Mummy EVEN MORE at this stage as she has dealt with more than one, okay two, oh okay – a number of broken ankles, and mine is NOT EVEN BROKEN. Oh how relieved was I to hear that after the doctor looked intently and repetitively at my X-RAY, though I could’ve sworn I saw two lines on it myself. But I’m not complaining. Ah okay, you’ve got me, you’re right, I jolly well am complaining!

So the outcome is that my ankle is NOT broken, it is only been sprained. Charlotte, my trusty friend who drove me straight to A&E and stayed with me till the bitter end, (as it’s never a speedy in and out at A&E is it) said to the doctor “Well that is not a good enough description for that”, pointing to my avocado sized ankle bone. ”We need more!” The doctor did laugh and proceeded to explain the ligament damage bit… Charlotte was now thrilled as I had a PROPER and decent sounding injury to show for my pain!

So it’s been ice, painkillers, elevation and the brilliant truly brilliant Arnica gel who have been my best friends this week. Better best friends than my lovely husband, whom we agreed does not have the carer gene. Even my children who are just busy little bees seem a little too busy for me, or perhaps I’m just a little too demanding! It is a pain to keep asking for stuff and “can you just …” I think that’s been the hard bit, as Mrs Independent has had to step down from her usual position and assume Mrs Helpless. And that DEFINITELY goes against the grain!

On a serious note I saw a post re-tweeted on Twitter this morning about a young disabled boy. His family are raising monies for an electric wheelchair, with no hesitation and with tears in my eyes I sponsored him. How can I even attempt to understand how difficult his life is, always. I’ve watched the sheer genius of Gordon Reid triumphant at Wimbledon as Wheelchair Singles Champion and Doubles Champion with his partner Alfie Hewett, and I regularly witness the sheer brilliance of Jacob, Tom’s friend whose chair is a part of his every day. If nothing else this teeny injury has reminded me I am lucky and as I was told by some friends, sometimes it’s good to just stop, because that way you look, hear and see things differently.

Chat back to me won’t you? As I shan’t be far away (funnily enough!) though am desperately hoping I will be with you on Sunday with the Skechers and Ultrasun shows. I absolutely hate missing coming to QVC and seeing you all, “put the lippy on and get on with it” has always been my motto, so let’s hope I’m mobile by then and with my lippy firmly on… fingers crossed!

Oh ,Ouch !! so sorry you have hurt yourself Claire. I can understand the not liking to have to keep asking for things as I have been there. I don’t think it is easy for women not to be the ones doing ! Wishing you a speedy recovery and hoping to see your smiling face on our screens again soon.
love and hugs Sandra xx

Well honey you seem to have been to the wall and back, feeling sorry for yourself is part of being a Mum, Wife who is always well and doing for everyone else happily at that and then lo and behold you get time to be the one not well and go through the the stages of feeling that no one has time for you, but you have come out the other side and can now see that there are people in life who live with a disability which makes them dependant on others and will be all their live and you will get better and soon be back to doing your usual things for everyone else. Chin up will not be long xx

Hi Claire,
sorry to hear about your injury, hope you are up and about soon.
My grandson has jut recovered from an injury very much like yours playing football at uni in Leeds.It was a race against time because he was booked to go to America to coach sport at summer camps.He just managed to recover for his flight on the 1st of July. get well soon
much love Linda xx

poor you Claire, It’s horrible being immobile even for a short period of time. Make sure you get plenty of rest and fingers crossed we see you Sunday. Good excuse for a netflix marathon, check out Grace and Frankie if you haven’t already, It will give you a good laugh. Feel better xx

Hope you are feeling better soon Claire. I’ve got rheumatoid arthritis, went from being very active to virtually immobile over night. To cut a long story short, it’s made me appreciate life more. Hope you’re back on QVC very soon lovely lady. Xx

I know how you feel and I hope your recovery wont take long, I know your missing your friends at work and the viewers also miss your lovely personality that you have but dont rush things if you dont feel right as its not worth rushing back too soon, you take care x

Wow you have my sympathy!
I broke my 5th metatarsal 10 weeks ago, and thought all was well until 3 weeks ago, after a new X-ray that it hadn’t healed. Have a lovely moon boot and have another X-ray due tomorrow. Was told that if still not healed then I will need a pin!
So hard not being able to drive. Living alone has not been easy either, having to rely on friends to help,out. (I’m not good at asking for help!)
Arnica gel has definitely been my friend, and a lot of spending on QVC, looking forward to little parcels arriving kept me smiling!
I wish you a speedy recovery!!

I had the same injury a few years ago and can sympathise so painful. Was told that sprains/ligament damage was worse than a break and took longer to heal. It does make you think when you’re mobility is affected about others that face this every day of their lives. Good luck with your recovery

Oh bless Claire, it’s never easy losing your independence, even if it’s only for a short while.
Hopefully your ankle will be feeling better soon, but you do need to be careful and not try to rush things, your body needs time to heal. Keep the Arnica going it increases healing (can be up to 6 times faster).
Have missed you brightening up my days, always so jolly.
Thinking of you and wishing you well.

Dear Claire, your ankle was my ankle back in February. I tripped on a kerbstone and down I went with my ankle under neath with my full weight on top. I was rushing around during my work lunch break and instead of being in the moment I was thinking of the next ten tasks I had to do. I hobbled back to work, trousers filthy from the puddle I landed in. My work colleague just looked at the state of me and I burst into tears. I had held my nerve until I got behind closed doors and then the fright hit me. I took my knee high boot off and my ankle ballooned. After a trip to A & E and X-ray later I was sent home with painkillers, instructions to rest and my feeling of embarrassment. My five year old son is in a wheelchair; he has muscular dystrophy and being his principle carer through our everyday schedule into chaos. I had to lie on a couch helplessly looking on as various family and friends mucked in for me. I have a new found respect for being mobile and capable and for living in the moment. Look after yourself xxx

Be careful Claire, I had a similar injury last August and once the bruising had healed I had a red mark where it had been on my leg then tingling sensations firing down my leg at odd times. Anyway to cut a long story short, I had surgery in April to remove part of the siatic nerve in my leg because I had injured it. If you have any hard lumps under the skin,get them checked out before you have to resort to surgery. Hopefully you won’t be as unlucky. Get Well Soon.x

Ooh What you like. Here was me thinking I would like to get back into netball not too sure now lol. I wish you a speedy recovery although I’m sorry to say it’s a slow healing process. My son did a similar thing and they said he would have been better off breaking it. Just take it easy and get it better. Don’t try to get back on your feet too soon as it will only take longer. Hugs

Oh dear! You have done a good job of your foot imitating a black pudding! I agree with your treatment plan.

When I first became disabled, I had been Mrs-Run-The-World. It was a shock when I found out I’ll never assume that role again and having to call out for help far too often for my own liking! It does give you the chance to perceive things differently and to feel sweet gratitude more deeply for all you ARE blessed with.

I’m glad your injury is temporary, but do give it enough time to heal thoroughly. When you are back, we want to see you fit enough to stand, for an hour show if need be, without injuring yourself further!

Oh my… I’m just gulping having popped onto to see if any body had left me a comment to reply to… Yet another thing to be grateful for .. ALL OF YOU !!! Wowzer how lucky am I to have all your messages to read – you are so kind and to hear ” don’t rush- we’ll be here waiting for you .. And better soon ” have completely got me -I’ve been and got a referral to see s specialist – remember I have my mummy as a benchmark regarding ankles ( infact Dan messaged whilst I was waiting for the X Ray saying ” let’s hope you haven’t inherited your mummy’s glass ankles” so I’m going to be checked and poss scanned – we shall see- On a great note my hobble style is improving Dan reckoned although not my ability with the crutches- I look lethal he says !!! And the colour is lessening today … Again a positive. Gosh reading your stories of similar injuries makes me realise how regularly this thing happens .
Sadly Sunday is not going to be possible – the realities of sticking my foot up mid show!! and indeed standing on it for an hour properly is as my Dr said ” a no…”so more resting is on my agenda .. Still another blog may well appear quicker than usual with all this time!!!! Silver linings and all… Lots of love and thank you’s to you all… Claire Xxxxx

Poor you! Ouch, ouch. Rest rest and rest again. The family will now realise how much you do for them!!! As like most mums we always feel guilty at not always being “on the ball” all of the time.
I wish you well really soon. Judith xx

Oh Claire you poor love – that looks very nasty. I hope everyone in the family is running round looking after you. I do hope you make a speedy recovery and that you do make it on air on Sunday. I’ll be looking out for you.
Love Denise xx

Sorry to hear about you injury. I am an aries too and just as impatient as you, having had three falls in Seven months and still trying to recover. I hope to see you back on screen very soon as I miss you bubbly personality. [you are my favourite presenter and QVC is not the same without you. xxxp

I was sorry to hear about you injury and I know how clumsy feels having has 3 falls in the last seven months. I wish you a speedy recovery and return to our screens. You are my favourite presenter and I miss your bubbly personality xxx

Thankyou all once again for your lovely thoughts – sadly not with you this weekend 🙁 so I shall pen a blog and add some pics so we can chat that way – hope you’re all ok and enjoying this sun ??!!! Xxx

Hi Claire glad your OK and your ankle is healing the picture of the bruising and swelling was how mine looked many years ago when my children were small we had aday at longleat went over to gorilla island and as I got of the boat my ankle went over I remember feeling very faint and sick my husband wanted mre to go to the first aid place but I stubbornly wouldn’t didn’t want any fuss I now know I should have had it looked at in hospital it got better eventually but about 10 years ago I suddenly saw some swelling appearing again but gradually it’s got worse and even the bottom of my leg swells too I have treatment on it now it have been told the circulation isn’t great and probably have bone massing but although it’s uncomfortable I wear support pop socks at work helps. Little bit I’m a waitress so feet getting hot in shoes isn’t helpful so all in all my own fault for not getting it looked at its come back and bitten me on the bum now I’m older if I had been sensible like you it may not have been so bad .I bet your bored as your always busy but never mind hopefully your on the mend best wishes to you love Loraine xx

Hi Claire..i feel your pain as i did this twice!! The first time was two years ago..ladt day of summer term and i had a funny turn half way up the stairsa at school and next thing i knew i was at the bottom thinking my ankle had been ripped off! They called my husband eho took me to hospital..put me in a wheelchair to get me in to A and E then ran at a kerb ‘to get me up it’ which failed miserable, i fell out and put my bad ankle down..oh the pain! I had torn ligaments and tendons and colouring identical to yours…took 12 weeks before i could wear my beloved wedge sandals but i was in birkenstocks and hobbling after being on crutches for 2 weeks. I then did it last year..i was standing on the toilet seat cleaning the toilet window when the seat broke and my foot ended up down the u bend..yes go on laugh…the a and e staff thought it was hilarious but the pain!!
And yes..i wasiss independant and yes..i seemed to be blessed with a leas than tolerant hubby when caring comes to mind!! However like you, i insisted that my ties were perfectly polished. Speedy recovery my lovely. Love Mary x

Snap! No not the bone or tendon kind but the card game kind when you both have the same card. I’m sitting here with my elevated foot cooling it with a pack of frozen sausages (ran out of frozen peas) and wondering if I’ll ever feel confident walking on that foot again without limping. Trip to the physio yesterday. Came out with ultrasound treatment on the ankle, pummelled left calf and a walking stick. Unlike your poor foot, mine didn’t go blue or swell it just became impossible to weight bear on so I carried on hobbling to work and apparently have continued to sprain it for the past two weeks. The things we do for work! Anyhow Mrs I do hope you have a rest while recovering and it’ll give your family another chance to see all the things you do for them, that they now have to try and do for themselves ( said with a smile) I love that you share so much of your off qvc life with us all. Lovely to hear how the children are growing up. Be well soon x